Beef
Meeting the ‘in-spec’ criteria for finishing cattle
Aisling Molloy, Future Beef Programme Advisor, shares tips and advice for farmers finishing cattle over the winter months, highlighting the importance of monitoring performance, understanding the payment grid and what to look for when drafting animals for sale.
13 November 2024
Listen: Staying resilient on the farm through stressful times of the year
Health & Wellness coach, Shane Pearson joins Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge podcast to discuss key tips to staying resilient on the farm through stressful times of the year.
13 November 2024
Higher levels of liver fluke in factory cattle
Animal Health Ireland’s (AHI’s) Beef HealthCheck Programme has identified an increase in the level of liver fluke being witnessed in cattle sent to beef processing plants this year.
13 November 2024
Setting the scene for the Teagasc National Beef Conference
The countdown is on to the Teagasc National Beef Conference, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, November 19 in Landmark Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim.
12 November 2024
Management and Performance Update with Ger McSweeney
Ger McSweeney provides an update on the management and performance of livestock on farm, focusing primarily on the weaning and nutrition of spring-born bulls and heifers.
10 November 2024
100% AI on Olivia Hynes Farm
Olivia Hynes is making changes to her farm management as she works to rebuild her herd and improve efficiency. After facing challenges with a sub-fertile bull, she has decided to transition to 100% AI for next year’s breeding season.
09 November 2024
Reviewing the Ballyhaise herd performance and preparations for the winter ahead
Liam McWeeney and Noel Prunty from Teagasc Ballyhaise Agricultural College join Catherine Egan on this week’s Beef Edge to discuss the beef system, review of the performance to date and preparing for winter ahead.
09 November 2024
Autumn calving and animal health on John Barry’s farm
John Barry, Future Beef farmer, describes farming practices on his farm. He details seasonal calving with 50–55 cows in spring and 30–35 in autumn, housing schedules, and health management protocols.
07 November 2024
9 management tips when feeding dairy-beef animals this winter
Are you feeding dairy-beef animals this winter? Gordon Peppard, DairyBeef 500 Advisor, shares nine key tips to maximise performance, limit costs and ensure animals remain healthy over the winter months.
06 November 2024
SCEP mandatory training course deadline November 15 2024
Are you one of the over 5,000 Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) participants yet to complete the mandatory training element? Beef Specialist at Teagasc, Catherine Egan reminds farmers of the upcoming deadline to have training completed and the implications of non-adherence.
05 November 2024
The key principles of feeding concentrates to growing-finishing cattle
With an indoor winter period required on practically all Irish farms, Mark McGee and Edward O’Riordan, Teagasc Grange, share principles on concentrate feeding – a key component of beef production systems.
04 November 2024
Dairy calf to beef: It’s good to talk
Discussion groups specific to dairy calf to beef farmers are now running in Teagasc regional units across the country. Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Advisor, Gordon Peppard tells us more in this article from Today’s Farm.
03 November 2024
Balancing silage quality and concentrate supplementation on dairy-beef farms
Grass silage is an important winter feed in dairy-beef systems. Balancing this forage with the correct quantity/quality of concentrate is key to achieving the desired winter weight gains.
02 November 2024
Purchasing concentrates – what ingredients are important?
With housing having occurred or just around the corner on many beef farms, Catherine Egan, Beef Specialist at Teagasc, reminds farmers to focus on the ingredients making up their concentrate feeds.
01 November 2024
Finding value for money in concentrate feeds
The cheapest concentrate mix on a € per tonne basis may not be the best value, writes Catherine Egan, Beef Specialist at Teagasc, who advises farmers to consider the value of the ration based on its feeding value relative to its cost.
31 October 2024
Research update: Feed efficiency in beef cattle
Kate Keogh, David Kenny and Mark McGee of Teagasc report on research that makes one animal more feed efficient than another.
31 October 2024
What should I look out for in concentrate feeds?
When it comes to buying rations, Beef Specialist at Teagasc, Catherine Egan reminds us that it’s important to focus on the basics.
30 October 2024
Winter nutrition and diets with Teagasc Nutritionist, Aisling Claffey
Teagasc Nutritionist, Aisling Claffey discusses winter nutrition and diets on this week’s Beef Edge podcast.
30 October 2024
Potential to double the rate of gain on the Dairy Beef Index of beef sires
Increases in the usage of sexed semen, along with the beef sector’s desire for a more profitable, productive, efficient and sustainable animal has seen a greater focus placed on beef on dairy breeding polices in recent times.
30 October 2024
New Newford Farm in Co. Roscommon
Peter Higgins, B&T Drystock Adviser, Teagasc Galway/Clare, gives us an update on the new Newford Farm in Co. Roscommon, a suckler to beef demonstration farm showcasing sustainable and profitable farming practices, including breeding, calving, and soil management.
27 October 2024
Nearly one in five yet to submit SCEP weights
Farmers participating in the Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) are reminded that the final date to submit weights to ICBF as part of the programme’s weighing element – a measure worth 20% of the SCEP Payment – is November 1.
26 October 2024
Heavier and more in-spec carcasses - early life nutrition’s role in dairy-beef
Early life nutrition represents a potential period of opportunity for dairy-beef producers, Head of Animal and Bioscience Department at Teagasc, Professor David Kenny told a recent gathering of scientists, beef industry representatives and farmers.
25 October 2024
Additional SCEP in-person training events announced
A further six in-person Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) training days have been announced by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
24 October 2024
Search continues for cause of summer scour syndrome
Theories aplenty, but as of yet there has been no clear confirmation of the cause of summer scour syndrome – an ailment of dairy and dairy-beef calves resulting in diarrhoea, ill-thrift and weight loss.
23 October 2024
Is Bluetongue Virus a risk for Ireland?
Dr. Eoin Ryan, Senior Superintending Veterinary Inspector with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, gives an update on the Bluetongue Virus on this week’s Beef Edge podcast.
23 October 2024
Expressions of interest welcomed for dairy-beef course
Are you interested in commencing a dairy calf to beef enterprise or seeking skills and advice to make improvements to your existing enterprise? Fergal Maguire, Advisor on the Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Campaign, writes on an Advanced Dairy Calf to Beef Course, due to commence in December 2024.
23 October 2024
5 steps to becoming an organic farmer
As the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) has recently reopened for applications, Teagasc Organic Advisor, Orla Walsh provides five key steps farmers must follow when transitioning from a conventional to an organic farming system.
22 October 2024
Maximise weanling performance at housing
Martina Harrington, Manager of the Teagasc Future Beef Programme, provides guidance on preparing weanlings for housing by focusing on disease prevention and minimising stress.
19 October 2024
International Dairy Calf to Beef Conference
An International Dairy Calf to Beef Conference, organised by Teagasc in partnership with ABP and BSAS, is taking place in Co. Wexford.
17 October 2024
250,000 fewer suckler cows since June 2015
The number of suckler cows present on Irish farms in June 2024 declined by over 250,000 head when compared to the same period in June 2015, provisional figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) have shown.
17 October 2024